Kalanchoe plant named Bingo

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Bingo, characterized by its bright pink flower color, floriferous habit, dense and relatively small leaves, early flowering, and its excellent keeping qualities.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and knownby the cultivar name Bingo. Bingo was developed by me through controlledbreeding by crossing Feuerball (seed parent) and the unpatented culivarPluto (pollen parent). Feuerball is disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,861.

Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stabilized and are reproduced true to type insuccessive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Kalanchoe from bothits parent culivars and other cultivated kalanchoes of this type knownand used in the floriculture industry:

1. Bingo has bright pink flowers which are deeper in color than theflowers of the cultivar Mini-Pluto (not patented) or Dignity (disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,255), the flowers of Dignity being lavenderpink. The flowers of Sensation (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,727)are deeper rose pink. Feuerball, the female parent, has light redflowers.

2. Bingo is greater in height than Mini-Pluto, equal in height toDignity and Sensation, and is less tall and more compact than Feuerball.

3. Flower size is larger than Mini-Pluto and Feuerball, but equal insize to Dignity and Sensation. Bingo has a rounded petal type similar toSensation.

4. There are more flowers on the terminal and lateral branches thanMini-Pluto, and approximately as many flowers as Dignity, Sensation andFeuerball.

5. Flowering time is 9 weeks after start of short days in summer, and 11weeks in winter, which is earlier than Dignity which is 10 weeks insummer, 13 weeks in winter; Sensation is 11 weeks in summer and 14 weeksin winter; Feuerball is 10 weeks in summer and 14 weeks in winter.Mini-Pluto is 7 weeks in summer but equal to Bingo in winter at 11weeks, all as tested in Ashtabula, Ohio.

6. After flower initiation, plants must be treated with B-9 in allseasons to reduce peduncle elongation.

7. Leaf color is darker green than Mini-Pluto and similar in color toSensation, Dignity and Feuerball.

8. Leaf shape is oblong like Mini-Pluto, while Dignity, Sensation andFeuerball have ovate leaves.

9. Leaf size of Bingo is slightly larger than Mini-Pluto but smallerthan Dignity, Sensation and Feuerball.

10. The moderate growth rate, early flowering and small dark densefoliage of Bingo make the cultivar hightly suited for 10 cm potproduction.

11. Bingo is better branched than Feuerball, equal in branching toSensation and Dignity, but not as well branched as Mini-Pluto.

The accompanying colored photograph, taken in February of 1985,illustrates in perspective view the overall appearance of this cultivar,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in acolored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new Kalanchoe cultivargrown in 10 cm plastic pots produced under commercial practices in thegreenhouses of Mikkelsens Inc., Ashtabula, Ohio, in January andFebruary, 1985. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Parentage: A controlled cross of Feuerball×Pluto.

Propagation:

(A) Type cutting.--Short stem cutting up to 2 cm long; propagates easilyand in great quantity from stock plants.

(B) Time to root.--10 days at 21° C. summer, 14 days at 21° C. winter.

(C) Rooting habit.--Many fine fibrous roots.

Plant description:

(A) Form.--Short, compact, upright; ideally suited for growing andscheduling practices for 10 cm pots.

(B) Habit of growth.--Moderate rate of growth with branching usuallyfrom every node.

(C) Foliage.--Leaves simple, opposite. (1) Size: Average full grown leafof plant in flowering in a 10 cm pot is 110 mm long and 70 mm wide. (2)Shape: Elliptic to oblong, apex obtuse to truncate, base attenuate. (3)Texture: Glabrous, coriaceous, succulent. (4) Margin: Crenate. (5)Color: young foliage, top side green 137B, under side green 137C. Maturefoliage, top side yellow-green 147B, under side yellow-green 147C.

Flowering description:

(A) Flowering habits.--Cyme inflorescence; each shoot is formed bydichotomous branching, starting with the opening of the terminal flowerof main axis, followed by terminal flowers of the side branching,continuing with subsequent development of branches in the inflorescence.Major inflorescence is 60 to 70 mm in diameter and lateralinflorescences are 40 to 50 mm in diameter in a 10 cm pot.

(B) Natural flowering season.--Late December. Flowering time undercontrolled daylength at 20° C. in summer is 9 weeks; in winter is 11weeks. Flowering time depends on temperature, light intensity, and othergrowing conditions.

(C) Flower buds.--Oblong up to 12 mm long, developing to tubular asflower petals mature, sheathed with four green sepals; corolla atmaturity 10 mm long.

(D) Flowers borne.--Compound dichasial cymes; peduncle 4 mm in diameter,with peduncle length depending on growing conditions and B-9application; pedicels up to 9 mm long.

(E) Quantity of flowers.--Highly floriferous; main axis counted over 100flowers, side branches over 50 flowers with 5 or more side branches in a10 cm pot; excellent keeping quality.

(F) Petals.--(1) Shape: Nearly rounded, top cuspidate. (2) Color: Topside when opening red-purple 67C, fading to red-purple 68A; under side52C; occasional petals showed 52A. (3) Number of petals: Four (4) unitedin corolla; petals 7 mm in diameter; flower 18 mm in diameter.

(G) Reproductive organs.--(1) Stamens: Eight (8 ) in number. (a) Anthershape: Flat elliptical, color yellow. (b) Filament color; Light green.(c) Pollen color: Yellow. (2) Pistels: (a) Stigma: Flat, immature colorgreenish white, mature color white. (b) Styles: Light green. (c)Ovaries: 4 celled, 5 mm in size, color light green.

Disease resistance: Highly resistant to Mildew. No other diseaseproblems seen to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Bingo,as illustrated and described, and particularly characterized by itsbright pink flower color, floriferous habit, dense and relatively smallleaves, early flowering, and its excellent keeping qualities.